London Vocal Communication Laboratory
Lab Directors
Professor Carolyn McGettigan (UCL)
I was born and schooled in Derry, N Ireland. I completed a BA in Natural Sciences at the University of Cambridge, followed by a PhD in Human Communication Science at UCL. My research is concerned with understanding the behavioural and neural processes involved in vocal communication. I set up the VoCoLab at Royal Holloway in 2012, and in September 2018 I relocated to UCL Speech, Hearing and Phonetic Sciences.
Aside from research, my greatest passions are cycling, baked goods and the Eurovision Song Contest. I also play violin with the North London Symphony Orchestra.
Dr Nadine Lavan (QMUL)
I’m interested in how listeners make sense of another person based on their voices. In my work, I therefore ask questions around how we (learn to) recognise people from their voices and how and why we form first impressions. I completed my PhD in the VoCoLab in 2017 at Royal Holloway and then rejoined the VoCoLab as a post-doc between 2018 and 2020. In 2020, I then moved to Queen Mary University of London, where I now work as a Senior Lecturer.
When I'm not trying to understand voice perception, you can often find my cycling around London to discover new corners of the city that I haven't been to before. In contrast to some other people in the lab, I unfortunately have no discernable musical talent.
Postdoctoral Researchers
Dr Victor Rosi
My research interest lies in the essential aspects that shape the identity of the human voice. At VocoLab, I will employ acoustic analysis and signal processing techniques coupled with statistical modelling and machine learning methods to unravel the multiple processes underlying the perception and production of vocal identity, including social traits, geographic origins, and gender. In the future, my main focus will be to explore the acoustic dimensions that contribute to gender diversity as expressed through speech, with the aspiration of developing a voice coaching tool for trans and non-binary people. Furthermore, I am engaged in studying the conceptual link between musical timbre and other sensory modalities.
Alongside my academic activities, you can find me playing with orchestras as a trumpet player or hiking in mountains.
PhD Students
Ziyun Zhang
I am interested in examining how communication in virtual meetings affects spoken interactions, particularly in situations with poor connection. I will explore various aspects, including the exchange of linguistic signals, the appraisal of social and affective information (such as personalities), and interpersonal neural synchronization. I utilize both behavioral and neuroimaging method (fNIRS).
Outside of my academic research, I also have a passion for street photography and enjoy capturing moments with my FujiFilm camera. Additionally, I have an interest in interior design and enjoy watching videos related to this field.
